Interim Results - Part 2

WPP GROUP PLC
16 August 1999


PART 2                                                                 

                                 Appendix I

                                WPP GROUP PLC
             Unaudited consolidated interim results for the 
                      six months ended 30 June, 1999

               Notes  Six months Six months     Constant    Year 
                        ended      ended        Currency ended 31 
                      30 June    30 June                 December
                         1999      1998*   +/(-)  +/(-)      1998
                           £m         £m     %      %         £m
                                                (note 3)

Turnover
(gross billings)      4,445.1    3,842.1  +15.7%  +14.1%  8,000.1
                      --------------------------------------------
Revenue               1,017.3      900.0  +13.0%  +11.4%  1,918.4
                      --------------------------------------------
Gross profit            861.2      770.0  +11.8%  +10.1%  1,632.5
Operating costs        (740.6)    (666.3) -11.2%   -9.3%(1,403.4)
                      --------------------------------------------
Operating profit        120.6      103.7  +16.3%  +14.9%    229.1
                      --------------------------------------------
Income from associates    8.3       4.8   +72.9%  +81.4%     16.1
Profit on ordinary 
activities before interest
and taxation            128.9     108.5   +18.8%  +17.8%    245.2
                      -------------------------------------------
Net interest payable
 and similar charges    (16.3)    (14.7)  -10.9%   -9.1%   (32.4)
Profit on ordinary 
activities before
taxation                112.6      93.8   +20.0%  +19.2%    212.8
                      --------------------------------------------
Tax on profit on
ordinary activities 5   (34.9)    (30.0)  -16.3%  -15.6%    (67.0)
Profit  on ordinary
activities after
taxation                 77.7      63.8   +21.8%  +21.1%    145.8
                      --------------------------------------------

Minority interests       (2.4)     (2.2)   -9.1%   -9.1%    (5.5)
                      --------------------------------------------
Profit attributable
to ordinary share owners 75.3      61.6    +22.2%  +21.5%   140.3
Ordinary dividends  6    (7.8)     (6.2)   +25.8%  +25.8%  (19.6)
                      --------------------------------------------
Retained profit
 for the period          67.5      55.4    +21.8%  +21.0%   120.7
                      ===========================================
Earnings per share
 (net basis)
Basic earnings per
 ordinary share    7    10.0p       8.4p   +19.0%  +18.0%   19.1p
Fully  diluted
 earnings per
 ordinary share    7     9.8p      8.4p    +16.7%  +15.9%   18.8p
                      -------------------------------------------

Ordinary dividend 
per share
      - interim    6     1.0p     0.84p    +19.0%  +19.0%   0.84p
      - final             -         -        -      -       1.72p
                      --------------------------------------------
Earnings per ADR
 (net basis)**
Basic earnings per ADR  $1.62     $1.39    +16.5%  +18.0%  $3.17
Fully  diluted 
earnings per ADR        $1.59     $1.39    +14.4%  +15.9%  $3.12
                      ------------------------------------------
Ordinary dividend
 per ADR (net)**
Interim                 16.2c     13.9c    +16.5%  +19.0%  13.9c
Final                       -         -         -     -    28.5c
                     ===========================================
   *Restated following implementation of FRS14
   'Earnings per Share'
                                (see note 7)
** These figures have been translated for convenience purposes 
   only, using the profit and loss exchange rates shown in 
   note 3.                                                    
                                WPP GROUP PLC
   Unaudited summary interim consolidated cash flow statement
   for the period ended 30 June, 1999
                           Six months    Six months         Year 
                                ended         ended        ended  
                              30 June       30 June  31 December
                                 1999          1998         1998
                                   £m            £m           £m
Reconciliation of
operating profit to
net cash (outflow)/inflow
from operating activities:
 Operating profit               120.6         103.7        229.1
 Depreciation charge             19.7          16.1         33.7
 Movements in working capital
 and provisions                (202.9)       (204.3)        (6.8)
                         ----------------------------------------  
Net cash (outflow)/inflow
 from operating activities      (62.6)        (84.5)       256.0
 Dividends received from 
 associates                       1.8           0.8          3.4

Returns on investments
 and servicing of finance       (13.9)        (14.8)       (28.7)

United Kingdom and overseas
tax  paid                       (31.6)        (28.9)       (59.0)

Purchase of tangible
fixed assets                    (22.1)        (17.4)       (51.6)
Purchase of own shares
by ESOP Trust                    (4.1)         (3.1)       (33.3)
Other movements                   1.6           0.6          2.8
                        ---------------------------------------- 
Capital expenditure
and financial investment        (24.6)        (19.9)       (82.1)
Net acquisition payments        (54.0)        (58.8)      (115.5)
                        ------------------------------------------
Equity dividends paid            -              -          (16.6)
                        -----------------------------------------
Net cash outflow before 
financing                      (184.9)       (206.1)       (42.5)
Increase/(reduction)
 in drawings on bank loans       42.3         103.0        (81.4)
Proceeds from US bond issuance      -            -         178.8
Share buybacks                      -         (17.1)       (21.3)
Other movements                   4.0           3.0          2.0
                        -----------------------------------------
Net cash inflow from financing   46.3          88.9         78.1
                         ----------------------------------------
(Decrease)/increase
 in cash and overdrafts
 for  the  period              (138.6)       (117.2)        35.6
Translation difference            6.8          (1.0)         0.9
Balance of cash and
overdrafts at
beginning of period             328.5         292.0        292.0
                         ---------------------------------------- 
Balance of cash and
 overdrafts at end of period    196.7         173.8        328.5
                         ----------------------------------------
Reconciliation of net cash flow
to movement in net (debt)/funds:
(Decrease)/increase in cash and
overdrafts for the period      (138.6)       (117.2)        35.6
Cash inflow from debt
financing                       (42.3)       (103.0)       (95.2)
Other movements                  (0.7)         (0.6)        (0.9)
Translation difference           (5.1)          0.9          0.1
                         ---------------------------------------
Movement of net funds in 
the  period                     (186.7)      (219.9)       (60.4)
Net funds at beginning
of period                        134.3        194.7        194.7
                         ---------------------------------------

Net (debt)/funds at end of
period (Note 11)                 (52.4)      (25.2)        134.3
                         ---------------------------------------

                                                                             
                         WPP GROUP PLC
   Unaudited consolidated balance sheet as at 30 June, 1999

                                   30 June    30 June 31 December
                          Notes      1999       1998         1998
                                       £m         £m          £m
Fixed assets
Intangible assets:
   Corporate brands                 350.0      350.0       350.0
   Goodwill                 8       204.1       79.4       158.0
Tangible assets                     178.1      145.6       166.7
Investments                 8       290.7       73.3       268.2
                                  --------------------------------    
                                  1,022.9      648.3       942.9
Current assets
Stocks and work in progress         140.2      124.8       107.3
Debtors                           1,058.0      917.9       893.1
Debtors within working
capital facility:
  Gross debts                       326.0      300.8       294.5
  Non-returnable proceeds          (219.5)    (208.8)     (209.2)
                                    ------      -----      ------
                                    106.5       92.0        85.3
Cash at bank and in hand            302.7      221.9       423.9
                                  -------------------------------
                                  1,607.4    1,356.6     1,509.6
Creditors: amounts falling 
due within one year         9    (1,846.6)  (1,570.8)   (1,777.3)
                                  -------------------------------
Net current liabilities            (239.2)    (214.2)     (267.7)
Total assets less current 
liabilities                         783.7      434.1       675.2

Creditors: amounts falling due
after more than one year   10      (468.6)    (345.7)     (401.5)
Provisions for liabilities 
and charges                         (80.0)     (68.3)      (77.9)
                                   ------------------------------
Net assets                          235.1       20.1       195.8
                                   ------------------------------ 
Capital and reserves
Share capital                        77.0       73.5        76.6
Reserves                            149.6      (61.5)      111.1
                                   ------------------------------
Share owners funds                 226.6       12.0       187.7
Minority interests                   8.5        8.1         8.1
                                   ------------------------------
Total capital employed             235.1       20.1       195.8
                                   ------------------------------

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